Gary Moore's new juvenile star Nassalam is set to be on target for his trip to Prestbury Park in March as he will follow in the footsteps of stablemate Goshen when looking to land the Grade One Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival.
The gelding looks to be a very exciting recruit for the yard, being regarded as the next Goshen by many experts in the industry and on Saturday he can back those claims up when stepping up for his first taste of black type racing.
The gelding moved over to England during the Summer and was given to Gary Moore after being bought by John Stone after finishing second in a conditions hurdles event at Clairefontaine.
Since moving over to England, the son of Dream Well is unbeaten on both starts to date, having ran twice in two Juvenile Hurdle events and landing them by a combined 108 lengths, something similarly achieved by his stablemate.
Having landed his first event by 59 lengths, he stepped out at again over the same course and distance at Fontwell and managed to again be a long distanced winner.
Adagio gets the better of Nassalam at Chepstow!
— oddschecker Racing (@oddsRacing) January 9, 2021
Adagio is cut into 8/1 for the Triumph Hurdle, while Nassalam drifts out to 14/1.
🎥 @AtTheRacespic.twitter.com/WC63VfEFJU
He stepped up for his first Grade One event at the weekend and being heavily backed before the off and going off as the even favourite he could only do enough to finish second behind the David Pipe trained Adagio.
Moore reports that he has come out of the race well and it is all systems go for the Cheltenham festival with him set to feature in the first race of the Friday and before that he may be seen once more at Cheltenham in the Triumph Trial.
(Credit ATR) Moore said: “He’s come out of the race very well indeed. I’m very pleased the way he’s come out of it.
“It was a massive step up to what he’d done. The ground would have been quick enough for us. I think we’d be a bit better on softer ground.
“When they go round Chepstow in three minutes 56 seconds it’s not heavy ground, and our horse is probably more suited to heavy ground.
“It’s all a learning curve. It’s the first time he’s a been in a battle. He never raced on the Flat, and his wins have been uncompetitive.
“I was delighted. He just got beat by a better horse on the day.“He’ll probably go for the Trial at Cheltenham (on January 30) as long as the ground is soft.”